A bird’s eye view reveals a patchwork quilt of vineyards dotted across undulating hills amidst twisted olive groves, ancient villas and the medieval village of Montalcino at an 1850-foot precipice. It is here that in the Brunello di Montalcino appellation that Rosso di Montalcino is crafted from the same delineated area as its famous older brother’s DOCG. Derived from 100% Sangiovese, or Brunello, the Rosso only requires a minimum of one year of age, six of which is required in barrel. Conversely, Brunello is governed by tremendously strict aging requirements that include a minimum of two years in barrel and four months in bottle. Needless to say, Rosso is brilliantly designed for early consumption and can be fetched for a true bargain while you are waiting for your serious Brunello to age. Nevertheless, this particular Rosso possesses the stuffing to age gracefully in your cellar as well.

 

Maddalena Cordella received a portion of her father’s family estate in 1998, which inevitably became the Cordella Estate. Maddalena runs the family business with an eye towards serious quality and with the help of astute winemaker and oenologist, Paolo Vagaggini. The 350-meter high vineyards boast well-drained Tuffaceous clays and are all hand tended and harvested. Grapes are de-stemmed, go through cold maceration then are vinified in climate-controlled stainless steel tanks. After roughly four months, the wine is transferred into 25 hectoliter Slavonian and French oak barrels where it is aged for eight months, which is two months longer than the appellation’s requirements for Rosso. The result is a classic Rosso that is firing on all eight cylinders.